There is a lot of interest in ancestry today. There are ways to research our heritage using DNA and older methods of tracing genealogy. If Facebook and ads on television are any indication, there are lots of surprises. We don’t always know our roots.
The people of God recognized the importance of remembering where they came from. The current refugee crisis naturally stands out for us. Some of our most fervent supporters of sponsorship were themselves refugees. Similarly, a formerly homeless man, now successful businessman, is raising awareness and seeking support for others, much as Terry Fox did for cancer research.
As we look around us and see so many who are uninterested in church life, we benefit from remembering our roots. All of us needed help to come to faith. Each night I give thanks for the saints who’ve helped me to realize God’s love is in us. Their love shown to me in so many ways encourages me to pass on love.
Lord of the harvest, all good things come from you alone. Help me to share my faith with others with the same grace that others have encouraged me. Let me begin always with a welcome that remembers that I, too, was once on the other side of the door. Amen. — EB